Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#1
Said this many times over months the A2 is now blocked as the A20 going into the port ,they must use other ports and one is Ramsgate open it for H.G.V. only takes longer to get across but the same can be said about Dover at this time.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#2
This idea is an old one and has been discussed before on here and elsewhere, it has also been dismissed as not suitable.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#3
I know that but moving some is better than none as it is now.Having worked over in their port when lorry,s did use it they would take 80 or more at a time easy to get and out of the port without going into the town they could keep them for hrs in the airport and let down when ships come in .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#4
As we know none of today's ferries could get near enough to Ramsgate even if they had berths big enough. All that runs from there is Russian river tank carrier.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#5
They had 30.000tons ferrys going in there before Dover did.And I do know that because I worked on them.end.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#6
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 1694- Registered: 24 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,087
#7
Port of Ramsgate:
Maximum vessel length
No 1 - Ro-Ro 140 metres
No 2 & 3 - Ro-Ro 180 metres
Depth of water at IAT Main channel 7.5 metres - turning circle 6.2 metres
Forget the GRT, what is important is maximum draft considering deadweight cargo + passengers on board on arrival at port.
A port is only suitable for a regular ferry service if vessels deployed on that service can enter, turn and leave at all states of the tide in all loaded conditions. If vessels have to restrict the available loading due to tidal restrictions imposed by draft, then the ferry service schedule either becomes unreliable or operates sub-optimally (at less than economical capacity) and becomes a regular loss maker, followed not long after by bankruptcy.
Of the below listed vessels, probably only the Malo Seaways and European Seaways would find Ramsgate suitable at all states of the tide in all loading conditions. However, the longer steaming ex Ramsgate would make both uneconomical to run into Calais ex Ramsgate and moving one or both from Dover to Ramsgate would collapse the existing Dover-Calais route for DFDS.
Vessels deployed on short sea route to Calais currently ex Dover:
Malo Seaways:
IMO: 9215505
MMSI: 228061800
Call Sign: FISR
Flag: France (FR)
AIS Type: Passenger
Gross Tonnage: 24206
Deadweight: 4884 t
Length × Breadth: 170.51m × 26m
Year Built: 2000
Current Draft 5.5m approx.
Calais Seaways:
IMO: 8908466
MMSI: 228006800
Call Sign: FGXF
Flag: France (FR)
AIS Type: Passenger
Gross Tonnage: 28833
Deadweight: 4286 t
Length × Breadth: 163.61m × 27m
Year Built: 1992
Current Draft 6.3m approx.
European Seaways
IMO: 9007283
MMSI: 232001040
Call Sign: MPDG3
Flag: United Kingdom (GB)
AIS Type: Passenger
Gross Tonnage: 22986
Deadweight: 7432 t
Length × Breadth: 169m × 27m
Year Built: 1991
Current Draft 5.6m
Pride of Canterbury
IMO: 9007295
MMSI: 232001060
Call Sign: MPQZ6
Flag: United Kingdom (GB)
AIS Type: Passenger
Gross Tonnage: 30635
Deadweight: 7509 t
Length × Breadth: 180m × 28m
Year Built: 1991
Current Draft 6.4m approx.
Spirit of France
IMO: 9533816
MMSI: 235082717
Call Sign: 2DXD5
Flag: United Kingdom (GB)
AIS Type: Passenger
Gross Tonnage: 47592
Deadweight: 9884 t
Length × Breadth: 212m × 31.4m
Year Built: 2011
Current Draft 6.5m approx.
Spirit of Britain
IMO: 9524231
MMSI: 235082716
Call Sign: 2DXD4
Flag: United Kingdom (GB)
AIS Type: Passenger
Gross Tonnage: 47592
Deadweight: 9500 t
Length × Breadth: 212m × 31.4m
Year Built: 2011
Current Draft 6.5m approx.
Pride of Kent
IMO: 9015266
MMSI: 233009000
Call Sign: MQCJ2
Flag: United Kingdom (GB)
AIS Type: Passenger
Gross Tonnage: 30635
Deadweight: 7550 t
Length × Breadth: 179.7m × 28.3m
Year Built: 1992
Current Draft 6.0m approx.
Pride of Burgundy
IMO: 9015254
MMSI: 232001470
Call Sign: MQSQ9
Flag: United Kingdom (GB)
AIS Type: Passenger
Gross Tonnage: 28138
Deadweight: 5812 t
Length × Breadth: 179.7m × 28.3m
Year Built: 1993
Current Draft 6.0m approx.
Rodin
IMO: 9232527
MMSI: 227022800
Call Sign: FOBQ
Flag: France (FR)
AIS Type: Passenger
Gross Tonnage: 33796
Deadweight: 5700 t
Length × Breadth: 185m × 27.7m
Year Built: 2001
Reported draft alongside 6.5m
Berlioz
IMO: 9305843
MMSI: 228085000
Call Sign: FMAB
Flag: France (FR)
AIS Type: Passenger
Gross Tonnage: 31644
Deadweight: 5700 t
Length × Breadth: 186m × 27.7m
Year Built: 2005
Reported draft alongside 6.5m
The other three vessels normally operated out of Dover, the Dover Seaways, Dunkirk Seaways and the Nord Pas De Calais, I haven't listed full details above. The Nord Pas De Calais is currently berthed alongside at Dunkirk with no indication when she is next to move and the other two are both continuously active on the Dover-Dunkirk route.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#8
Thanks for that clarification Neil, there will be many still unbelieving on social media though. Charlie is looking at the idea of using Belgian ports but I can't see any logistical sense in it even if they could take the volume of freight that moves Calais.
Guest 1395- Registered: 5 Nov 2014
- Posts: 463
#9
I seem to recall that the Dover-Zeebrugge route closed down because it became uneconomic. Lorries didn't want to use it once the motorway from Calais into Belgium was finished as the 4 hour crossing was too long.
Lew Finnis
Guest 1348- Registered: 20 Sep 2014
- Posts: 276
#10
In regards to the A2 it was still heavy going and idiots just sitting across the junction at roundabout top of jubilee way. If you are going to deal I wouldn't go down the A2. Coming back from Deal on it is ok.
Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
#11
We went to deal from Lydden this morning - Coldred, Singledge Lane to Whitfield, Archers Court Road, Forge Lane, Martin, Coldblow, Walmer - lovely views but just as busy as the A258 on a normal day.
Guest 977- Registered: 27 Jun 2013
- Posts: 1,031
#12
Lew Finnis wrote:I seem to recall that the Dover-Zeebrugge route closed down because it became uneconomic. Lorries didn't want to use it once the motorway from Calais into Belgium was finished as the 4 hour crossing was too long.
So if you want to move the same amount of vehicles you need 4 times as many ships - not practical except for specialised customers.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#13
MPs and UKIP are saying the same now open up Ramsgate port.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#14
A UKIP spokesman said yesterday that we should boycott Calais, no wonder so few take them seriously.
Guest 1348- Registered: 20 Sep 2014
- Posts: 276
#15
maybe we should, it would make them sort themselves out.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#16
I have not knowingly bought anything French for a while, I really miss my Camenbert cheese so I hope something gets sorted soon.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#17
Only the Dover-Calais-Dover route can handle the massive traffic flows and the size of the vessels involved, if there were alternatives rest assured the ferry operators would have acted accordingly. Our resident MEP and shipping expert Nigel Farage suggested Ramsgate as an alternative!!
Guest 1348- Registered: 20 Sep 2014
- Posts: 276
#18
maybe they should invest in an alternative, as they say eggs all in one basket